Shining a light on domestic violence

A tree lighting ceremony at Hope Library on Friday will kick off the third annual Purple Lights Campaign.

October is domestic violence awareness month and organizers are encouraging residents to support the cause by shining a purple light bulb in their home.

“Our hope is that we raise awareness and that people start paying attention to what’s going on in the community and with people who are impacted by domestic violence,” said Marianne Brueckert, program manager of victim services at Hope community police office.

“It’s trying to urge people to become more involved and not turn away when they know something’s happened.”

Brueckert points out that domestic violence isn’t always visible to people through signs such as a black eye, cuts or bruises.

Emotional, verbal and phycological abuse can start in the form of controlling behaviors, she said.

According to Statistics Canada, on average, every six days a woman in Canada is murdered by her intimate partner.

More than 3,000 women, along with their 2,500 children, are also living in emergency shelter to escape domestic violence every day.

The cost of violence against women in Canada for health care, criminal justice, social services, lost wages and productivity is estimated at $4.2 billion annually.

Purple lights bulbs are available for a minimum $2 donation from the Hope Library, Hope RCMP, Hope and Area Transition Society, SOCIA Building, Free Rein Associates, District of Hope and Pages Bookstore throughout October.

Victim services will also be selling purple pins for a minimum donation of $2.

The tree lighting ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on Sept. 30.

For more information on the campaign, contact Brueckert at 604-869-7770 or email marianne.brueckert@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.